Improvement in water-wheels



PATENT4 OFFICE.,l

T. J. KINDLEBERGER, OF EATON, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN WATER-WHEELS.

Specification forming part of Letters `Patent No. 56,572, dated July 24,1866.

To all whom it may] concern:

Be it known that I, T. J. KINDLEBERGER, of Eaton, Preble county, andState of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in ReactionWater-Wheels, of which the following is a full and clear descriptionthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making partof this specification.

My improvement relates to the arrangement of a series of buckets betweentwo conical surfaces, all secured to the main shaft; also, to a seriesof levers operating two gates, which regulate the supply of waterthrough double chutes to the wheel or wheels.

Figure l is a perspective viewof my improved wheel and levers and gates.Fig. 2 is an elevation of an auxiliary wheel upon the main shaft. Fig.'3 is a transverse section taken through the double chutes which guidethe water to the auxiliary wheel. The plane of section is indicated inFig. l by a red line. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section taken inthe plane of the axis of the main shaft.

A represents the frame of the machine, to which are secured thestationary parts. A main shaft, B, upon the frame A is journaled at gand g. Secured to shaft B are the main driving-wheel C and auxiliarywheel D. Upon the shaft B and outside of' the frame A is secured thedriving-pulley E. The main wheel C and auxiliary wheel D are placed inthe partitions c and d, which are at a sufficient distance apart to giveroom for the double chutes a and b.

The chutes a conduct the water to the eyes of each wheel, and pass overthe main shaft B. The chutes b feed the water beneath the shaft B, andfeed each wheel in the same manner as is done by the chutes a.

The mouths of chutes a have a gate, a', which is opened and closed byelevating or depressing the rod o, operating circular bars d.

To the circular bars d are pivoted, at each end, connecting-links c andf. Links c and f are also pivoted to arms projected from gates a and b'.Circular bar d' passes through guideboxes d", each of which has a pairof frictionrollers.

The main driving-wheel C is made up of three principal parts: Outwardly,the concave conical plate h, the elements of which make an angle offorty-five degrees with the main shaft, to which it is secured by meansof key or setscrew; inwardly, the annular ring i, which is in closecontact 4with the plate 7a, and plate 7c, secured to the in sideface ofpartition c. Part ofthe annular ringt flares, its elements making withthe main shaft the same angle that do the elements of the conical plateh. The buckets l occupy the space between the conical plate h andannular ring fi. The apex of the conical plate 7L is in close contactwith the cylindrical sheath m. Plate k has an eye, a, symmetricallysituated with reference to the main shaft B.

The auxiliary wheel D has outwardly a plane plate, p, which flares outfrom a point near its edge. An annular ring, q, part of which ares atthe same angle as does part of plane plate p, is in close contact withplate r, which is secured to the inside face of partition d. Plate r hasan eye symmetrically placed with reference to main shaft B. The bucketss are permanently secured to and located between the annular ring q andplane plate p. Upon the hub which projects from plane plate p is thefreely-revolving disk t, to which are secured, near its edge, arms u,pivoted at one end to the regulating-valves t, and a worm, w, journaledin standards which project vertically from plane plate p. Worin w meshesinto rack fr. Rack x is permanently secured to the freelyrevolving diskt.

Operation When there is a sufficient quantity of water, or the head isample for the purpose of propelling the machinery, the use of theauxiliary wheel D is dispensed with. This is accomplished by turning theworm w by means of a crank or wrench. The rack x is acted upon, rotatingthe freely-revolving disk t. The arms u are thrown out, causing theregulating-valves o to close the space between the buckets. Since it issecured to the main shaft B, it revolves, but has no propelling power.The entire weight of water is thus thrown upon the buckets of the maindrivingwheel C. 'Should there still be more power derived from the wheelC than is required, the gates a and b may be partly closed by depressingthe rod o, narrowing the openings to the chutes c and b. The efilux ofwater from buckets l is limited to the outward angles, respectively,twenty-two and one-half degrees and forty-live degrees, made With theface of the wheel or with plane plate k.

Experience shows that the above construction of Wheels subserves thegreatest economy.

Having fully described my invention, the use and operation of itsvarious parts, I make the following claims, Which I desire to secure byLetters Patent:

l. The circular bar d', connecting-links e and i f, gates c and b', andguide-boxes el, combined and arranged as above described, and for thepurpose set forth.

2. The Worm w, rack w, arms u, valve o, with disk t, combined andoperatin gas above shown, and for the purpose set forth.

3. The main driving-Wheel G, auxiliary Wheel D, both upon maindriving-shaft B, in combination with chutes d and b and gates a/ and b',for the purpose above speciiied.

DR. T. J. KINDLEBERGER.

Attest:

WM. DOEGEN, C. L. FISHER.

